Part 14: Sermon by Sambhava

When śakra had become silent after this hymn of praise, the Blessed One, Sambhava Svāmin, delivered this sermon with a desire to benefit every one:

“Every single object in worldly existence is in fact transitory. People in it are confused by a moment of pleasure to no purpose. Alas! creatures live with calamities coining from themselves and others from all directions, standing on the support of Yama’s teeth. If impermanence penetrates in bodies made of adamant, why mention creatures that resemble the inside of a plantain tree?^[1] If any one wishes to make permanence in weak creatures, let him make it in a man of straw composed of old dry straw. For people living in the cavity of the mouth of the tiger of death there are no charms, spells, cures, incantations for protection. First, old age devours a man advanced in years; then Kṛtānta (Death) hastens. Alas for a human birth! If he recognized himself as subject to Kṛtānta, who would even eat, to say nothing of (committing) evil acts? Just as bubbles in water disappear as soon as they appear, just so do the bodies of embodied beings instantly. Samavartin (Yama) sets out to destroy without distinction rich man, poor man; king, beggar; wise man, fool; good man, bad man. He has no friendliness to virtue; no hostility to vice. Death devours people, like a forest-fire a great forest.

But do not fear this, confused even by missiles of kuśa-grass! By what means could the body be free from destruction? The ones who are able to make a staff out of Meru, or an umbrella out of the earth, are not able to protect themselves nor another from Death. The rule of Death being lord from a worm to an Indra, a sane man could not begin to tell the trickery of Death. If any one could see anywhere any man of past times alive, then the trickery of Death would be passed over by philosophical systems. Let the wise understand even youth to be transitory, becoming decrepit from old age which destroys youthful beauty. The men who in youth are loved by fair women with the semblance of love, in old age are abandoned with the sound of spitting made by the greedy. The money which is acquired by rich men with much trouble and is preserved without being enjoyed disappears in a moment. What need is there to compare money, which disappears inevitably while its possessors look on, with bubbles and lightning? Meetings with friends, relatives, and people are accompanied by separations in case of death, change, or injury of one’s self or another. One who meditates constantly on impermanence does not grieve even for a dead son; but one who is confused by persistence in (the idea of) permanence cries out even at the breaking of a wall. Not only body, youth, money, relations, etc. are transitory, but also this world comprising everything moving and motionless. A man knowing everything to be transitory as described, free from possessions, should strive for a permanent abode and permanent bliss.”

After they had listened to the Lord’s sermon, many men and women took initiation at his lotus-feet at that time. Then the Master taught the ‘three steps’ consisting of permanence, origination, and perishing to the men, Cāru and others, who had the body-making karma of gaṇabhṛts. The hundred and two gaṇabhṛts composed the twelve aṅgas and the fourteen pūrvas in accordance with the ‘three steps.’ The Lord arose, took the powder brought by Śakra and, throwing it, gave them permission for exposition by means of the substances, etc., and for the gaṇas. The gods, etc. threw fragrant powder on them, accompanied by the sound of the drum, and the gaṇabhṛts remained, longing for the Master’s speech. The Lord sat down again on the divine lion-throne, facing the east, and gave them a sermon consisting of instruction. At the end of the watch, the Lord ceased speaking. An oblation of eight pounds of rice came from the royal palace. It was thrown up in the air and the gods took half of it, as it was falling. Half of what fell was taken joyfully by the kings and half by other men, after dividing it. Then the Teacher of the World arose, went out by the north door and rested on the dais, though not tired. Such was the custom.

Seated on the Master’s foot-stool, Cāra, the head of the Gaṇadharas, delivered a doubt-destroying sermon by virtue of the Master’s power. At the end of the second watch, he stopped his preaching like the reading of the scriptures at the time of Saturn.^[2] Then the gods, asuras, kings, etc. bowed to the Master and all went to their respective homes, joyful like people who have completed a festival.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Noted for fragility.

[2]:

A particular time of day at which any religious-rite is improper. MW, s.v.